Community walk raises $340,000 to date in support of CHLA’s
life-giving health care services

June 22, 2017 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

LOS ANGELES--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Children’s
Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) hosted its inaugural Walk L.A. on
Saturday, June 17, 2017 at Griffith Park, raising $340,000 for the
hospital to date. The four-kilometer walk, which was a sell-out at 1,200
walkers and exceeded its fundraising goal of $250,000, provided
patients, their families and friends, and CHLA staff a unique
opportunity to walk in solidarity to help improve the health of children.

“The fact that we can rally behind Rex to possibly save someone else’s
life at the hospital… It doesn’t take the pain away but it certainly
does help us to know that Rex’s life was meaningful.”

“Walk L.A. celebrates what makes Children’s Hospital Los Angeles so
special – which starts with our mission to create hope and build
healthier futures for children,” says Paul S. Viviano, president and
chief executive officer of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “There is a
saying in our field that ‘health care is a team sport.’ This event
permitted CHLA and its faculty members, caregivers, researchers,
patients and their families, corporate partners, Ambassadors and
supporters to celebrate the teams that it takes to provide premier
clinical care for children in Southern California.”

The top fundraising team of the event was Rex
and the Heart Beaters, who has raised more than $106,000 to date.
Billy and Elisha Becerra formed the team in loving memory of their son
Rex, who was diagnosed with congenital heart disease shortly after birth
and underwent open heart surgery at CHLA. While the surgery was
successful, Rex’s heart was too weak to overcome the recovery; he passed
away peacefully in his family’s arms. More than 130 of Rex’s friends and
family participated in the walk, including his grandfather and former
Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, who has raised more than $45,000 to
date and was the event’s top individual fundraiser.

“The support we’ve received from friends and family is incredible,” says
Billy Becerra, Rex’s dad and team captain of Rex and the Heart Beaters.
“The fact that we can rally behind Rex to possibly save someone else’s
life at the hospital… It doesn’t take the pain away but it certainly
does help us to know that Rex’s life was meaningful.”

“Children’s health is very important to Cigna, and we are happy to come
out to help support the wonderful work that Children’s Hospital Los
Angeles does for our community,” says Sarah Mahoney, new business
manager at Cigna, longtime CHLA supporter and Walk L.A.’s Gold Sponsor.

Walk L.A. donations can be made at www.WalkLA.org
through July 31, 2017. Donors can choose the specific division,
department or program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles they would like
to support. Undesignated donations will go to the Helping Hands Fund,
which ensures that CHLA is able to provide critical, lifesaving care to
every patient the hospital treats.

About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Children's Hospital Los Angeles is dedicated to creating hope and
building healthier futures for children. Founded in 1901, CHLA is one of
the nation’s leading pediatric academic medical centers and is
acknowledged worldwide for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent
health. The hospital relies on the generosity of the community to
support its groundbreaking pediatric research and the complex care it
provides for critically ill and injured children.

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